Sunday, January 26, 2014

Kerala Minister assures cardinal on Western Ghats

Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church
says, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has assured him of solving
the issues concerning Western Ghats.Chennithala on Tuesday
visited the Cardinal at his house.

The minister, who assumed office
early this month, said the meeting was a friendly visit, reported the
New Indian Express.“After assuming charge, I did not get the
opportunity to meet him. I share camaraderie with him right from the
time when I was an MP in Kottayam,” he said.The cardinal said the minister assured him of solving issues pertaining to the Western Ghats.“He
said the rights of farmers and their families residing in the area will
be protected and they will not be subjected to any kind of mental
torture,” he said.The ruling Congress government wanted
implement recommendations of a green panel to save Western Ghats but
Church leaders opposed it saying the move will displace thousands of
families in the area, most of them Catholics.

In an election
year, the communist leaders pledged support to the Church, which some
interpreted as Congress losing Catholics, its traditional support base.UDF convener P P Thankachan, Jospeh Vazhakkan MLA and DCC president V J Poulose accompanied the minister.